Vulcanizing press



Sept. 29, 1931. a. J. SCHMIDT VULCANIZING PRES Filed July 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l INV TOR. @Mm 51 SEH/71m', A

A TTORNEYS"l Sept- 29, 1931. R. J. SCHMIDT 1,825,616

VULCANI Z ING PRE S S Filed July 5, 1927` 2 Sheets-Sheer. 2

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' RICHARD SCHMIDT, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE PANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION Patented Sept. 29, 1931 UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT OFFICE AKRON EQUIPMENT 00M- oE OHIO vULcANIziNG PRESS Application led July 5, 1927. Serial No. 203,486.

The present invention relates to vulcanizing presses, and while the feature-s of the invention to be set forthv and claimed herein are' A adaptable for presses of general utility in' w.

this eld, they are particularly intended and adapted yfor'tlievulcanization of inner tubes.

The invention illustratedv herein is shown inconjunetionY with a press of the type shown in my prior Patent'No. 1,581,090, dated April icrv 13, 1926, and although the mechanism is' shown and described as adapted to that type of press, it' will be understood by those skilled in this art that the invention in its broader `aspects may be applied to presses of other e .Y however, that' in the operation of the presses, .30'.

injury to the tube. through this imperfection in prior presses.

typesk and styles. Changes and modifications, ltherefore, may be employed `in the adaptation of theinvention to other specific types of presses or molds, andthe claims are ,intended vto be construed in' the light of the 20' prior art to cover such adaptationsor modifications as fall within their scope and intent.

In' the manufacture of full molded' inner tubes, to which this invention is especially v adapted', but not limited, it has been custom- 25 ary to lock the mold inthe press about the outer periphery, theinner periphery or cir-` cumference of the vmold beingwitliout any locking -or clamping devices: It 1s found,

the'spring inherent in the mold is sufficient to permit the mold to' expand or separate slightly about the inner circumference, thereby opening upthe joint between the mold sec- Y tion-s and allowing a portion of the'rubber to i' escape.

This results in the formation of an objectionable rind or oveiiow about the' inner periphery of the tube, which is not only wasteful, but often results in the permanent Many tubes are lost The object of. the present invention'is to combine with the press a llocking device which willoperate conjointly about the inner s and outer circumferences of the tube mold,

clamping the mold firmly together so that none or a very minute overiiow is obtained about the entire-surface of the tube. The press shown herein has been operated with superior results and gives a uniformly better product without loss'through the formation of objectionable rinds.

The form of the invention which has been successfully" operated is shown in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a press equipped with a tube mold` opened up for the removal of a vulcanized tube and the placement of a green or unvulcanized tube therein;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the parts shown in Figure 1; e

Figure3 is a side view-of the press, partly in section, closed and locked with a tube therein;

Figure 4 is a position;

Figure 5 is an` enlarged vertical section showing the center locking device;

Figure 6 is va horizontal. section on the line 6 6 of F-igure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail of Figure 5; and

.Figure 8 vis-a detail section. of the louter locking device.

plan view showing the locked section on ,the line 7-7 The press illustrated herein comprises a 755 horizontall tableor `bed, plate 5 supportedA at a convenientheight upon a plurality of posts or pedestals- 6. Around vthe bed plate are arranged a number of vertical rods 8, here shown as three in number, to the upper ends of which is secured, at a -distance abovel the bed plate, a stationary platen 9. A lowerY platen 10 is mounted upon the rods on which it is slidablye toward and from the stationary platen,I being moved Vby a i nected tothe platen and operated by a yfluid pressure cylinder 14 depending from the under side of the bed plate 5. The platens are shown without heating chambers therein, but such means may be provided. To the opposing surfaces of the upper and lower platens are securedthe mold halves or sections 16 and 17, respectively, the sections being chambered for the circulation of steam.

The tube cavity bears the reference numeral 95?- of the lower platen and mold, a spring-oper- 10 Stil plunger 12 con- 8513 ated safety catch 24 is pivoted upon the lower bed plate and adapted to engage the lower platen.

In order to clamp the mold about its outer circumference to squeeze the mold together as closely as possible about its outer circumference, the lower platen carries a. plurality of upstanding posts 25 which are adjustable as to height by lock nuts 26 above and below the lower platen and engaging the screwthreaded ends thereof. As the platen 10 moves upwardly, the posts project through holes 27 formed in brackets 28 about the upper platen. Four of these posts are shown. In the upper ends of the posts are out transverse apertures 30 which clear the upper surface of the platen 9 when the. mold is fully closed by the plunger l2. The upper side of these apertures are tapered or slightly wedged as shown in Figure 8.

In radial alignment with the apertures 30 are the four radial keys or plungers 32. the outer end of each of which is tapered upon its upper surface to correspond with the taper in the apertures 30. These keys are provided with grooves or guideways 34 which are engaged by guide plates 35 on the upper platen. The several keys are connected to links 36 which are pivoted at their inner ends to a common actuating ring 38. This ring is rotatably mounted on the axis of the machine by means of a boss 39 on the under side of the ring and received in a similar recess on the top of the upper platen. Rotary movement of the ring will proiect or withdraw the plungers in unison so that at the inward limit of their movement they clear the posts 25 and at their outer limit the tapered surfaces will draw the two mold halves together about their outer periphery.

The ring is designed to be rotated by either of two devices. A simple hand lever 40 may be employed. or if it is desirable to exert greater force upon the outer locking devices than may be obtained by the operation of the hand lever. a mechanical device. for this purpose may be substituted. As shown in the drawings. the ring has secured thereto a sector-shaped arm 4l which extends outwardly of the upper platen and is formed on its under surface with a. gear segment 42. This segment is engaged by a bevel pinion 44 on the end of a horizontal shaft 45 mounted in a bearing 46 on the upper platen, and carrying a hand wheel 47 by which it may be rotated. of the gear segment to confine it within mesh with the bevel pin.

The mechanism which has just been described constitutes the locking devices fork the outside of the molds. Arranged to c0- opel'ate therewith and operable by the same mechanism are devices for exerting locking or compressing action upon the inner circum- An idler wheel 48 rests upon the topA ference of the mold. This will now be described.

Attached to the lower mold platen 10 is a center plate 50, which, in the present device, is connected directly to the piston 12. The center plate is formed with a plurality of upstanding lugs 5l, three in number, having overhanging lips or fianges 52, the under surfaces of which are beveled or tapered as shown in Figure 7 to correspond with the taper on the keys 32. Movable vertically through the center of the upper platen is a center lock post or shaft 53. This shaft is rotatable as well as movable in the direction of its length, being provided with a longitudinal keyway 54 which is engaged by a key 55 located in the ring 38, so that as the ring' is revolved to operate the keys 32, the center lock shaft will also be revolved. The lower end of the lock shaft is designed to enter the center plate 50 and is provided with outstanding arms 58 which pass between the lugs 51 as the mold is closed and are rotated to engage the tapered under surfaces of the lugs, the ends of the arms being correspondingly tapered (Figure 7 Adiustable nuts 59 on the threaded portion of the lock shaft constitute an abutment for the shaft andv transmit the pressure to the upper platen. It will be observed. therefore, that as the outer periphery of the mold is being tightly clamped by the keys. the inner surface is also being squeezed together by the rotation of the center shaft and its coaction with the center locking plate.

It is also necessary to raise and lower the center locking shaft so that the interior of the mold will be free and open for manipulation of the work. In order to accomplish this purpose, the upper end of the center shaft is supported for rotation in a collar 60. carried upon a link 61 which is suspended at the end of a rocking arm 62. pivoted centrally on a bracket 63 mounted on the top of the upper platen. The opposite end of the arm 62 is connected by link 64 with a vertical push rod 66 movable in bearings 68 on the upper and 69 on the lower platens. Attached to the push rod between the bearings 68 and 69 is an adjustable stop collar 70, and below the bearing 69 is an adjustable stop collar 7l. A spring 72 surrounds the push rod between the collar 70 and bearing 69. In the opera-tion of this device, as the lower platen raises to bring the mold sections together, the spring 72 is compressed by the bearing 69 against the collar 70 and the push rod is raised, lowering the center lock shaft until the head thereof enters the center plate where it is ready for the clamping operation. On opening the mold, the downward movement of the platen 10 raises the center shaft until it is clear of the mold. By this means the space within the mold is not obstructed and the center locking means does not interfere Lamela with the operations of removing and replacing the Work. The nuts 59 on the center lock shaft form an adjustable stop for the downward movement thereof, and the spring compensates for any irregularity of adjustment. When different sizes of molds are placed in the apparatus, the adjustable stop collars and the nuts 59 afford a means of compensating for the difference which arise.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. A vulcanizer comprising two mold sections having central apertures located therein and movable toward and from one another, a locking device for the outer periphery of the mold and a second locking device for the inner periphery of the mold, positive connections between said locking devices, and mechanism for exerting clamping force upon the said locking devices simultaneously, the said locking devices each having mating wedge surfaces movable upon one another to exert a squeeze about the outer and inner peripheries of the mold.

2. In an apparatus for vulcanization, a sectional mold, a plurality of clamps arranged about the outer periphery of the mold and an additional clamp for the inner periphery of the mold, and means to project the additional clamp into locking position as the mold is closed.

3. In an apparatus for vulcanization, a sectional mold, a plurality of clamps arranged about the outer periphery of the mold, and an additional clamp for the inner periphery of the mold, said additional clamp being movable axially of the mold.

4. In an apparatus for vulcanization, a sectional mold, a plurality of clamps arranged about the outer periphery of the mold, an additional clamp for the inner periphery of the mold, said additional clamp being movable axially of the mold, and means to project the additional clamp to a position within the mold as the latter is closed.

5. In an apparatus for vulcanization, a sectional mold, a plurality of clamps arranged about the outer periphery of the mold, an additional clamp for the inner periphery of the mold, said additional clamp being movable axially of the mold, means to project the additional clamp to a position within the mold as the latter is closed, and means to move all of the clamps simultaneously to exert a squeezing action about the inner and outer peripheries of the mold.

In a vulcanizer, two platens, a molding surface carried by each platen, means to move the platens toward and from one another, a plurality of Wedges arranged about the outer periphery of the mold and engageable with corresponding surfaces connected therewith, a plurality of wedges in the interior of the mold and engageable with corresponding surfaces connected with the mold, and means to operate all of said wedges simultaneously to exerty a squeeingv action about bothf :the in# ner and outer peripheriesof the mold. vk7.? Inval vulcanizer `of'the type described, twovmoldsections, means tomove saidv mold sections'toward and from one: another, anda clamplocated-atthe;center ofthe mold and a'daptedsto'squee'ze ittogether about its inner periphery, saidclamp comprising a. central' clamping device movable into and' out of the planeof'themold concurrently'withtherelative movementof themold sections.

8;.'In a vulcanizer ofi thel type described, twomold sections, means to move said sections toward and from -one another, clampsabout the outer periphery of the`mold,fand aA clamp for the inner periphery of the mold, said last named clamp comprisingV a rotatable shaft, wedgi-ng surfacesthereon and correspond-V ing Wedging surfaces aboutthe 'inner peripliery of the mold.-

9. In a vulcanizer of the type described, two mold sections, means to move said seotions toward and from one another, clamps about the outer periphery of the mold, a clamp for the inner periphery of the mold, said last named clamp comprising a rotatable shaft, Wedging surfaces thereon and corresponding wedging surfaces about the inner periphery of the mold, and means for moving the shaft outwardly of the mold plane as the mold sections are separated.

10. In a vulcanizer of the type described, two mold sections, means to move said sections toward and from one another, clamps about the outer periphery of the mold, a clamp for the inner periphery of the mold, said last named clamp comprising a rotatable shaft, wedging surfaces thereon and corresponding wedging surfaces about the inner periphery of the mold, and common actuating means for simultaneously rotating the shaft and tightening the clamps about the outer periphery of the mold.

11. In a vulcanizing press, upper and lower platens, a mold section carried on each platen, a pressure cylinder to move the platens together, and additional clamping devices for exerting a squeezing action about the inner and outer mold peripheries, said devices comprising a plurality of cooperating wedges and a common actuating device for operating all of the wedges simultaneously.

12. In a vulcanizing press, mold sections, means for moving the mold sections toward and from one'another, and clamps -for squeezing the sections together about the inner circumference of the mold comprising wedge surfaces carried by one mold section, a shaft movable axially of the mold, wedge surfaces upon t-he head of the shaft, means for projecting the shaft so that the head will be in alignment with the wedge surfaces on the mold section when the mold is closed and withdrawing it when the mold is opened, an abutment carried upon the shaft and bearing against the other mold section and means for rotating the shaft.

13. In a vulcanizing press, mold sections, means for moving the mold sections toward and from one another, clamps for squeezing the sections together about the inner circumference of the mold comprising wedge surfaces carried by one mold section, a shaft niovable axially of the mold, wedge surfaces upon 19 the head of the shaft, means for projecting the shaft so that the head will be in alignment with the wedge surfaces on the mold section When the mold is closed and withdrawing it when the mold is opened, an abut- .15 ment carried' upon the shaft and bearing against the other mold section and means for rotating the shaft, 'and a plurality of locking devices about the outer periphery of the mold operable by the rotation of the shaft. 29 RICHARD J. SCHMIDT. 

